IRS tax scams – what they are and how to avoid them

IRS tax scams – what they are and how to avoid them


by
J1 SummerTaxBack
October 7, 2022
⏱️ 6 minute read

🗂️ IRS tax scams don’t have to catch you off guard 😌
Here’s a simple, student-friendly guide to the most common scams and the exact steps to avoid them—especially useful if you’re in the U.S. on a J-1 or F-1 visa.

In this article, you’ll learn:
✅ What a tax scam is (in plain English)
✅ How to spot fake IRS calls, emails, and letters
✅ What to do about “tax transcript” and refund scams
✅ How the IRS actually contacts you (and how they don’t)
✅ Where and how to report a scam—fast

💡 Why this matters for international students
New forms, new acronyms, and unfamiliar rules make nonresidents easy targets. Knowing the warning signs can save you money, stress, and your identity.

🔎 What is a tax scam?
A tax scam is any attempt—by phone, email, text, mail, or video call—to trick you into sharing personal data or sending money. Scammers often pretend to be from the IRS, your school, a bank, or even a delivery company. Their goal: steal your identity or your refund.

📞 Beware of fake “IRS” calls
The IRS will not call or text you out of the blue to demand payment or personal details. Red flags:

  • Threats (“we’ll arrest/deport you today”)

  • Pressure to pay immediately

  • Requests for your SSN, bank info, or card numbers

  • Demands to pay by gift cards, crypto, wire, or a payment app

✅ What to do: Hang up. Don’t say or confirm anything. If you’re worried, call an official IRS number listed on IRS.gov (typed manually), not a number given by the caller.

📧 IRS email and phishing scams
Phishing emails look convincing: IRS-style logos, “urgent” subject lines, links to “claim your refund,” or attachments to “verify your account.”

✅ What to do:

  • Don’t click links or open attachments.

  • Never submit info through a link you didn’t type yourself.

  • Enable updates, use strong unique passwords, turn on 2FA, and keep backups.

  • The IRS does not email tax refund notifications—delete them.

📎 “Tax transcript” malware scams
These emails pretend to send your “tax transcript” and push you to open an attachment. The file installs malware.

✅ What to do: Forward the email to phishing@irs.gov, then delete it. If you must verify an IRS site, type the address yourself (e.g., idverify.irs.gov)—never click a look-alike link.

✉️ Fake IRS letters by mail
Mail scams copy IRS formatting and ask for quick payment or sensitive data.

Red flags:

  • No IRS logo or obvious typos

  • Demands to file/pay unusually early

  • “Prize” notices or requests to pay by gift cards

✅ What to do: Compare the notice number on IRS.gov or call an official number from the website (not from the letter).

🧑‍💻 Tax refund & identity theft scams
Scammers file a return using your data and steal your refund—or open an IRS account in your name.

Warning signs:

  • The IRS says a return was already filed for you

  • You receive an IRS transcript you didn’t request

  • IRS account notifications you didn’t trigger

✅ What to do: File your return as soon as you can, set up your IRS Online Account proactively, and respond quickly to any identity-verification letters using the official site you typed yourself.

📬 How the IRS really contacts you

  • First contact is usually by letter via U.S. Postal Service.

  • Calls or visits are rare—and typically follow a letter.

  • The IRS does not initiate contact by email, social media DMs, or text.

🚨 How to report a tax scam (do this right away)

  • Phone scam: Report to TIGTA (Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration) via the IRS Impersonation Scam form or call 800-366-4484.

  • Email/text scam: Forward to phishing@irs.gov with subject “IRS Phone/Email Scam.”

  • Identity theft suspected: Follow IRS guidance to secure your account and documentation.

✅ Quick checklist to stay safe

  • Never share SSN, bank, or card info over phone/email/text.

  • Don’t click unknown links or open attachments.

  • Type web addresses yourself; don’t trust look-alike URLs.

  • Use strong passwords + 2FA; keep devices updated.

  • File early with trusted software to reduce fraud risk.

💻 Make taxes simpler with J1 SummerTaxBack
We help international students and exchange visitors file correctly and securely—so scammers don’t stand a chance.
Get guided, nonresident-compliant filing and keep your data safe.